How does this medication work? What will it do for me?

Frovatriptan belongs to a class of medications known as 5-hydroxytryptamine agonists (also called triptans). It is used to treat migraine headaches with or without aura (warning signs that occur prior to the onset of a migraine) in adults. The pain of migraine headaches is thought to be caused by dilated blood vessels inside the head. Frovatriptan relieves migraine headaches by constricting these blood vessels.

Frovatriptan is not recommended for other types of headache or for headache prevention.

This medication may be available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms. Any specific brand name of this medication may not be available in all of the forms or approved for all of the conditions discussed here. As well, some forms of this medication may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here.

Your doctor may have suggested this medication for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking this medication, speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor.

Do not give this medication to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. It can be harmful for people to take this medication if their doctor has not prescribed it.

How should I use this medication?

The recommended adult dose of frovatriptan is 2.5 mg taken by mouth with fluids for migraine headache with or without aura. If the headache goes away with the first dose but then returns, a second dose of 2.5 mg may be taken between 4 and 24 hours after the first. You should never take more than 2 tablets in a 24-hour period.

Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

If you do not have relief from the headache with the first dose of medication, it is unlikely that a second dose will help.

It is important to take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

Store this medication at room temperature, protect it from light and moisture, and keep it out of the reach of children.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

stroke (symptoms include: sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body; sudden confusion or problems with speech; sudden vision problems in one or both eyes; sudden dizziness or loss of coordination; sudden severe headache, especially if it seems different from your usual headaches)

Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking this medication.

Are there any other precautions or warnings for this medication?

Before you begin taking a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should take this medication.

Allergy: People allergic to other medications in this class (5-hydroxytryptamine agonists such as rizatriptan and naratriptan) can also have an allergic reaction to frovatriptan. If you are allergic to any of these medications, you should not take frovatriptan unless advised to do so by your doctor.

Blood pressure: Frovatriptan may cause an increase in blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed. People with severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure should not take frovatriptan.

Drowsiness/reduced alertness: This medication may cause drowsiness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or perform other potentially hazardous tasks until you have determined how this medication affects you.

Heart disease and stroke: This medication may cause narrowing of the blood vessels that supply the heart. This can lead to chest pain, heart attacks, arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat), and other heart problems. There have also been reports of bleeding in the brain and stroke with this medication. For this reason, frovatriptan should not be used by people with heart or blood vessel disease. If you have certain risk factors for heart disease (e.g., high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, diabetes, family history of coronary artery disease, menopause, men over 40 years of age), tell your doctor.

Medication overuse headaches: As with other medications used to treat headache pain, taking frovatriptan too frequently may cause headaches to recur as the medication wears off. If you find that headaches return frequently, you may be taking too much of this medication. This situation should be discussed with your doctor.

Seizures: If you have seizures or a history of seizure disorder, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Pregnancy: This medication should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately.

Breast-feeding: It is not known if frovatriptan passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking this medication, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

Children: The safety and effectiveness of using this medication have not been established for children less than 18 years of age.

Seniors: There is limited experience with the use of frovatriptan by people over 65 years of age. The use of this medication by seniors is not recommended.

What other drugs could interact with this medication?

There may be an interaction between frovatriptan and any of the following:

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

stop taking one of the medications,

change one of the medications to another,

change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or

leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with this medication. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.